Gas regulator pedal attachment



June 22, 1943. E OJALVO 2,322,585

GAS REGULATOR PEDAL ATTACHMENT Filed Feb. 27, 1943 Patented June 22,` 1943 unirse STATES PATENT orties -GA'S REGULATOR PEDAL ATTACHMENT Edmond Ojalvo, New York, N. Y.

Application February 27, 1943, Serial No.-477,3-92

(Cl. T4-'526) Claims.

This invention relates to speed control devices for automobiles, particularly of the type adapted for attachment to gas pedals Yfor limiting the operative movement thereof.

On certain occasions operators of motor cars find it necessary to make provision for preventing the car from attaining more than a predetermined speed. In times of national emergency this may be due to maximum speed limits set by law for gas and tire conservation purposes. In normal times speed limitations may also be deemed advisable during initial driving periods of a new car; or they may be necessary for personal reasons. The methods employed for effecting such speed limits can generally be vsaid to fall into two classes, those wherein the maximum opening of the `throttle valve is controlled by a governor device, and those wherein the gas pedal is .prevented from being depressed more than a predetermined amount by some stop device.

The former of these methods is generally intricate in nature, costly to install, and not readily subject to variation `or adjustment except Vby an expert. Devices of the latter class are `generally simpler in construction than .those of lthe -governor type; but the known commercial embodiments of such devices are frequently diflicult to set, not easily adjustable, and -notconveniently capable of being released from their obstructing or operating positions` It is within the contemplation of my linvention to provide a device ofthe latter class adapted for ready attachment toa gas pedal, and not having any of the aforesaid shortcomings. And in this aspect of my invention, it is an important object to enable a gas regulator of the last mentioned class to be readily set for providing a predetermined maximum -limit ltothe speed of the car.

It is another object of this invetnion Vto'enable an operator to adjust the device for maximum speeds of the car within the limits determinable by 'the'entire range of the pedal, without the use of any special skill 'and without the necessity-of the operato-r leaving his seat.

It is still another vobject yof this invention to enable the device to be quickly released into its inoperative position so that if desired or necessary, as in the case of an emergency, the speed of the car can be quickly increased as the circumstances would justify.

And it is within vthe further contemplation of my invention to provide a device capable of `accomplishing the aforesaid objects, yet which is simple in construction and easy to install.

Other objects, features, and advantages will Pappear from kthe drawing Aand the description hereinafter .given.

Referring :to the drawing,

Figure l.islaside.partsectional elevation of my invention .shown :operatively associated ywith the floor board .of an automobile, .the parts Vbeing shown by broken :linesin their-operative position.

lFigure 2 is a front -vi'ewfof the device `looking from line 2-2 of -Figure 1.

Figure 3 isla section of Figure l -taken along line 3-'3.

Figure 4 .isa section l'of VFigure V1 `taken along line l- 4, and

Figure 5 is a -lragmentar-ysection like that Yin Figure 1,-of the -pawl and rack mechanism shown in the retracted or releasing position.

The form of -my invention illustrated in the drawing contains a supportingmember I-D comprisingabase |.I attached to l'the forward part of a conventional gas-or accelerator pedal |12 by fasteners yI3, and, preferably integral with the base, a casing |'4-containing therein achamber `I 5 through -which extends a plunger |f6. Said plunger is longitudinally Emovable through said casing, the -upper portion thereof extending through -the opening l1 in the-casing, and the lower portion thereof extending through the lower -opening 8 therein.

The ybottom lterminal of the plunger I6 is preferably expanded and inthe form-of a rounded or semi-spherical base or foot AHl adapted for abutment with-the 'noor board 2'll'of 'the car in a manner to be hereinafter 'set forth. The upper portion of said plunger is provided 'with a vrack 2| whose teeth '22 `areadapted to be operatively engaged lby Ithe 'slidable pawl 23. The pavvl is slidably supported by the bracket '24 which is mounted by threaded means over and is supported -by the member Il), said 'bracket also rincluding the'arm 25 and 'bearin'gZGrotatably supporting the shaft 21 for purposes to be hereinafter l-set forth. The vpawl 23 is yieldably urged by spring 28 into engagement with the teeth of the rack 2|, and is retractiloly Vactuated to the inoperative or releasing position shown in Figure 5, by release mechanismto be now described.

Pivotally mounted upon gas Vpedal |'2 is the release pedal 29 normally'urged upwardly by spring 30, the forward end of the release pedal containing the bifurcatedextension 3i (Figure 4) with which the lower terminal of link 32 is in pivotal engagement. Said lower terminal is provided Withpins 33 in s'lidable and rotatable engagement with slots 34 in said extension 3|, in conventional manner, to permita proper pivotal connection.

I4, and surmo-unted over the plunger 5G, is the helical spring 39, the lower portion thereof being in abutment with the floor or base of chamber l5, and the upper portion being in abutment with the collar 40 ailixed to plunger i6. When the plunger is in its upper or inoperative position, the said spring 39 is preferably in an unstrained condition. In said inoperative position of the plunger, it is preferred that the lowermost part 4i of the plunger shoe I9 be at a level slightly above that othe bottom surface 42 of the gas pedal l2.

The upper portion of the plunger I6, preij erably above the rack 2l, is pivotally connected to the arm 43 which is flxedly attached to shait 21. In the embodiment illustrated, the upper terminal 44 of arm 43 is bifurcated, containing slots 45 in slidable and rotatable engagement with pins 46 attached to the upper terminal oi plunger I6, to permit the desired pivotal movement. Fixedly attached to shaft 21 is also the arm 41, the free end of which is connected to a link or string 48 adapted for manual grasping, so that a pull in the direction of the arrow (Figure 1) will cause a clockwise rotation of arms 41 and 43 and a downward movement of the plunger I6.

In the operation of this device the operator, knowing the maximum limiting speed at which hev desires t0 set the device, depresses the gas pedal while operating the car until such speed is attained. For the purpose of our illustration, the position of the gas pedal for such speed is represented by the broken lines of Figure 1. At this point the operator pulls the arm 4l tcwards himself by applying the pull directly to the arm or to the link 48. Such a pull will cause a downward projection of the plunger, as aforesaid, until the plunger foot I9 strikes the floor 2|] as indicated by the broken lines in Figure 1. This downward movement is resisted only by the yieldable action of the spring 39, the pawl slidably engaging the the teeth 22 of the rack during such downward movement of the plunger. After the lowermost position is reached, the pawl 23 will prevent an upward return of the plunger, inasmuch as the pawl is in operative engagement with the upwardly directed teeth of the rack under the influence of the spring 28.

It is thus apparent that by the simple expedient of manually actuating the arm 41, the required maximum car speed is set according to the lowermost possible position of the gas pedal; In similar manner the pedal can be adjusted for any other position. The neness of the adjustment is dependent upon the number and size of the teeth 22 of the rack, the iiner the teeth the more minute the adjustment.

Should it be desired to release the device from its speed-limiting position, all that need be done is to depress the release pedal 29, which will forthwith cause a retraction of the pawl from its holding position thereby permitting the spring 39 to return the plunger to its inoperative position.

It will be noted that the upward movement of the plunger vis limited to its normal retracted position by the engagement of the shoe I9 with the base Il. It is also to be observed, as aforesaid, that the level of the lowermost point 4| of the plunger shoe I9 is above the bottom surface 42 of the gas pedal when the device is in its inoperative position, the base being elevated to accommodate said shoe. This arrangement permits the pedal to be depressed downwardly to its lowermost operative position without interference by the shoe when it is desired to run the car in normal manner.

It is understood that the embodiment above described and shown in the drawings is illustrative of my invention and not employed by way of limitation, inasmuch as numerous changes and modications may be made therein, withinthe scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with the gas pedal of an automobile, a device for limiting the operative movement of the pedal comprising a supporting member attached to the pedal and immovable with respect thereto, a plunger slidably support-A ed by said member, the plunger being movable between a predetermined normal retracted position at which the lower terminal of the plunger is at a level not below the undersuriace of the pedal, and a predetermined maximum projected position at which said lower terminal is below said undersurface, the said lower terminal of the plunger being abuttable with the floor of the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger in its retracted position, manually manipulable means for depressing said Vplunger to a selected projected position below said retracted position, whereby the maximum downward movement of the pedal will be correspondingly limited, and holding means for operatively maintaining said plunger in any projected position against the action of said yieldable means.

2. In combination with the gas pedal of an automobile, a device for limiting the operative movement of the pedal comprising a supporting member attached to the pedal and immovable with respect thereto, a plunger slidably supported by said member, the plunger being movable between a predetermined normal retracted position at which the lower terminal of the plunger is at a level not below the undersurface of the pedal, and a predetermined maximum projected position at which said lower terminal is below said undersurace, the said lower terminal of the plunger being abuttable with the floor of the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said ed for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a supporting member adapted fory attachment to the gas pedal, a plunger slidably supported by said member and adapted for movement relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position y,and a maximum .projected position a predetermined `distance .therebelow, the lower terminal of theplunger-being abuttable with the Vfloor of the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger .in its retracted position, means for depressingsaid plunger `to a selected projected position below said retracted position, whereby the pedal will be held against downward movement when the plunger is in engagement with the floor, and holding means for operatively maintaining said plunger yin any projected position against the action of said yieldable means.

4. Ina gas regulator pedal attachmentadapted for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a supporting `member adapted `for 4attachment to the `gas pedal, a plunger slidably supported by said member and adapted for movementl -relative to the Vpedal between a `normal retracted position and a maximum .projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger being abuttable with the floor of ,the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger .in its retracted position, means for depressing said plunger to a selected projected position `below said retracted position, whereby the pedal will be held against downward movement when the plunger is in engagement with the floor, holding means for operatively maintaining said plunger in any projected position against the action of said yieldable means, and foot-operated releasing means adapted for attachment to said pedal and associated with said holding means for releasing it from its operative holding position, whereby the plunger will be returned to its retracted position under the iniluence of said yieldable means.

5. In a gas regulator pedal attachment adapted for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a hollow casing adapted for attachment to the gas pedal, a plunger extending through and slidably supported by said casing, said plunger being adapted for movement relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position and a maximum projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger being abuttable with the floor of the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger in its retracted position, a pivotally mounted manually manipulable arm in operative engagement with the upper portion of the plunger for imparting downward operative movements thereto, whereby the plunger may be depressed to a predetermined projected position for holding the gas pedal against downward movement when the lower terminal of the plunger is in engagement with the floor, and holding means engageable with said plunger for holding it against retraction when in a projected position.

6. In a gas regulator pedal attachment adapted for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a supporting member adapted for attachment to the gas pedal, a plunger slidably supported by said member and adapted for movement relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position and a maximum projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger being abuttable with the oor of the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger in its retracted position, manually manipulable means for imparting downward operative movements to the plunger, whereby the plunger may be depressed to a predetermined projected position for holding the gas pedal against downward movement when .the lower terminal `of the plungeris in engagement with the licor, retractible holding means engageable with said plunger for holding it against retraction when in a projected position, and pedal Vmeans .adapted for `hinged attachment to said gas pedal and .operatively connected with 'said holding means, whereby upon an .operative actuation of the pedal means the holding means will be retracted to operatively releasesaid plunger.

'7. In a gas regulator pedal attachment adapted for operative `use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a casing adapted for attachment vto the gas pedal, a chamber ,within said casing, a plunger extending through said chamber and casing and slidably .supported by the walls Aof said casing, said plunger being adapted .for movement `relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position and a maximum projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger being .abuttable with the floor of the car, spring .means within said chamber normally urging the plunger into its retracted position, a pivotally mounted manually manipulable arm in `operative engagement with the upper portion of the plunger for imparting downward operative movements thereto, whereby the plunger may be depressed to a predetermined projected position for holding the gas pedal against downward movement when the lower terminal of the plunger is in engagement with the floor, toothed means on said plunger, a slidable pawl yieldably urged into operative engagement with said toothed means for holding the plunger against retraction when in a projected position, and means to retract said pawl from its holding position, whereby the plunger will be returned t0 its retracted position under the influence of said yieldable means.

8. In a gas regulator pedal attachment adapted for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a base member adapted for attachment to the gas pedal, a casing mounted upon said base, the underside of the base being adapted for positioning at a level a predetermined distance above the underside of the pedal, a plunger extending through and slidably supported by said casing, said plunger being adapted for movement relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position and a maximum projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger containing an expanded portion abuttable with the floor of the car when the plunger is in a projected position and abuttable with the underside of said base when the plunger is in its retracted position, yieldable, means normally maintaining said plunger in its retracted position, means for depressing said plunger to a selected projected position below said retracted position, whereby the pedal will be held against downward movement when the plunger is in engagement with the floor, and holding means for operatively maintaining said plunger in any projected position against the action of said yieldable means.

9. In a gas regulator pedal attachment adapted for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile, a base member adapted for attachment to the gas pedal, a casing mounted upon said base, the underside of the base being adapted for positioning at a level a predetermined distance above the underside of the pedal, a plunger extending through and slidably supported by said casing, said plunger being adapted for movement relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position and a maximum projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger containing an expanded portion abuttable with the oor of the car when the plunger is in a projected position and abuttable with the underside of said base when the plunger is in its retracted position, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger in its retracted position, a pivotally mounted manually manipulable arm in operative engagement with the upper portion of the plunger for imparting downward operative movements thereto, whereby the plunger may be depressed to a predetermined projected position for holding the gas pedal against downward movement when the said expanded portion of the plunger is in engagement with the floor, retractible holding means engageable with said plunger for holding it against retraction when in a projected position, and footoperated releasing means adapted for attachment to said pedal and operatively connected to said holding means, whereby upon an operative actuation of the releasing means the holding means will be retracted to operatively release said plunger.

10. In a gas regulator pedal attachment adapted for operative use with the gas pedal of an automobile; a supporting member adapted for attachment to the gas pedal, a plunger slidably supported by said member and adapted for movement relative to the pedal between a normal retracted position and a maximum projected position a predetermined distance therebelow, the lower terminal of the plunger being abuttable with the oor of the car, yieldable means normally maintaining said plunger in its retracted position, manually manipulable means for imparting downward operative movements to the plunger, whereby the plunger may be depressed to a predetermined projected position for holding the gas pedal against downward movement when the lower terminal of the plunger is in engagement with the floor, toothed means on said plunger, a pawl yieldably urged into operative engagement with said toothed means for holding the plunger against retraction when in a projected position, retracting means engage. able with said pawl, and pedal means adapted for hinged attachment to said gas pedal and operatively connected with said retracting means for retracting the pawl from its holding position, whereby the plunger will be returned to its retracted position under the influence of said yieldable means.

EDMOND OJALVO. 

